The court heard that McPartlin had been seeking help for “alcohol and emotional issues” at the time of the crash in Richmond, west London, on March 18.

Prosecutor Katie Sinnett-Jones told Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Monday that the incident happened at around 3.50pm when McPartlin drove his Mini around a “sharp bend and lost control” then ended up on the wrong side of the road.

He collided with another Mini Cooper before driving “straight into the front of an oncoming car.”

Read More

The court heard the driver of the other Mini said afterwards he thought he and his family were going to die in the collision.

In a statement read by Ms Sinnett-Jones, he said: “Myself and my family were in deep shock as we believed we could have died as a result of Mr McPartlin’s reckless driving.”

Wearing a black three-piece suit, white shirt and black tie, McPartlin stood in the glass dock in court to confirm his name, date of birth, address and nationality before pleading guilty to driving with 75 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

Read More

“He hopes that in time he can make himself better and that he might be forgiven by all of the many people he knows and he feels he has let down terribly.”

The court heard that in a statement to police, McPartlin said: “I am very sorry I did this. I am ashamed and mortified that this happened.

“I accept full culpability for this and wish to apologise to all those concerned.”

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

Speaking briefly outside the court following sentencing McPartlin said: “I just want to say I’m truly sorry for what happened.

“High standards are expected of me, I expect them of myself. I’ve let myself down, I let a lot of people down. And for that I am truly sorry. I’d like to apologise to everybody involved in the crash and I’m just thankful no-one was seriously hurt.”

Moments before he came to the court steps to speak a loud bang was heard as two cars passing along the road, near the large crowd of photographers who were gathered on the pavement, appeared to collide.